Portable viewing screen handle and lock therefor



May 8, 1962 G. D. HUDSON ETAL PORTABLE VIEWING SCREEN HANDLE AND LOCKTHEREFOR Filed July 22, 1960 Patented May 8, 19%2 3,033,599 PORTABLEVKEWHNG SCREEN HANDLE AND LOCK THEREFOR Gifford 1). Hudson and Frank D.Sayger, Warsaw, ind,

assignors to Da-lLite Screen Company, Inc Warsaw,

Ind., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 22, 1960, Ser. No. 44,668 1Claim. (Cl. 231-58) This invention relates generally to handles forcarrying a portable viewing screen, and more particularly to a handlehaving the dual job of carrying a portable screen in its closedposition, and for adjusting its position with respect to the standardfor supporting the portable screen.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a carrying handlefor a portable viewing screen, said handle being characterized by readyadjustment on its sup porting standard when it is desired to set up thescreen.

Another object is to provide a readily adjustable handle characterizedby having a locking device which is readily supported, and which cannotbe separated from the handle, which is simple in construction andoperation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparentfrom a study of the specification following taken with the drawing whichtogether describe and illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention. Other embodiments may be suggested to those having thebenefit of the teachings herein and such other embodiments are intendedto be reserved especially as they fall within the scope and spirit ofthe subjoined claim.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of an improved handle according to thepresent invention; a locking device for the handle being shown inexploded position with respect thereto; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the handle of FIG. 1 in position ona standard supporting a portable viewing screen.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portable picture screen of the generalform to which this invention relates showing its legs in their spreadposition for supporting the standard erect and its screen casing orhousing turned to and latched in a position parallel with the standard.

Referring now to the drawing, the improved handle according to thepresent invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 19and includes an elongated body member 11 adapted to slide upon astandard 12 and supporting a viewing screen housing or casing 30. Theelongated body member 11 is preferably made in a diecast operation, andhas an upper end wall 13 thereof provided with a rectangular shapedaperture 14 providing a guide for the standard 12, which also has arectangular shaped cross section of a dimension so as to readily slidein the aperture 14.

The elongated body member 11 includes a body element 16 extending alongthe standard 12 and spaced therefrom, the body element 16 includingspaced sides 17 which are also spaced from the standard 12. The bodyelement 16 and the sides 17 have an extension 18 therefrom with anaperture 19 therein in alignment with the aperture 14. The apertures 14and 19 guide the body member 11 along the standard 12.

Handle means 21 extend from the elongated body member 11 in a directiongenerally parallel to the body element 16 and the standard 12, thehandle means 21 being spaced as shown from both the body member 16 andthe standard 12. Sides 22 of the handle means 21 are generallyco-extensive with the plane of the spaced guides 17 extending from thebody element 16.

Means are provided for locking the handle 10 in position on the standard12, and to this end one of the sides 17 has a threaded aperture 23adapted to threadably receive a crank 24 having a handle 26, the crank24 being turned wherein the end 24 abuts and frictionally clamps thebody member 11 to the standard 12, and prevent shifting of the handlerelative to the standard.

Structure is provided for limiting the rotation of the.

crank 24 in release movement when releasing the clamping engagementbetween the handle 10 and the standard 12, and to this end a pin 27extends from one of the sides 17 and is adapted to engage with a throw28 of the crank 24 to restrict rotative movement thereof, and preventdisplacement of the crank 24 from the handle.

The body element 16 has an opening 29 therein for the reception of theusual rotatable connection (not shown) formed on the cradle 31. Thecradle 31 secures the screen casing or housing 30 thereto in the usualmanner.

The usual portable picture screen also is provided with an extension rod32 slidably mounted in the standard 12, cooperative case latching means33, 34 for releasably securing the casing parallel to the standard, andfoldable legs 35 forming a tripod for the structure. Such a structure isshown in Patent No. 2,708,559, granted May 17, 1955 to Du Mais.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shownand described, it will be understood that details of the constructionshown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined by the following claim.

We claim:

A locking device of the class described comprising,

(a) a pair of telescopically-shiftable members, one of the membershaving a threaded opening in one side thereof extending through the onemember to the exposed face of the other member, and

(b) a crank-handle clamping-element having a threaded hub-end of axiallength greater than that of the one-member opening, and threaded intothe one member opening for axial shifting toward and away from contactwith the exposed face of the other memher,

(0) and a pin fixed on the one member in position to engage the clampingelement and limit the swinging of the crank handle,

(d) whereby the opposite swinging of the crank handle effects the axialshifting of the hub end into and out of position to repectively lock themembers against or release them to permit telescopic adjustment.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS657,468 Taylor Sept. 4, 1900 2,541,535 Nefi Feb. 13, 1951 2,591,685 DuMais et a1 Apr. 8, 1952 2,706,525 Ruppert Apr. 19, 1955 2,708,559 DuMais May 17, 1955 2,832,405 Cooley Apr. 29, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 67,432Norway Sept. 1, 1947 521,277 Canada Jan. 31, 1956 760,822 Great BritainNov. 7, 1-956

